General Psychology Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

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If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

PSYC-2301-001 General Psychology

Prerequisites

Course Description

General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required: Exploring Psychology, 12th Edition, Worth Publishers, ISBN-10: 1-319-13211-1.

*Used textbooks are acceptable for this class. 

Supplies

• Classic note taking supplies (paper, pen/pencil) for in class
• Blue/black pen or pencil only – no colored writing utensils
• For course assignments:
  • Personal access to a reliable computer
  • Reliable Internet connection
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Open computer labs on campus are available for use

Student Performance

When you leave this course, you should be able to: 

• Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology
• Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology
• Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology
• Use terminology unique to the study of psychology
• Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation
• Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME TOGETHER

This 3-hour course is a hybrid style course.  Instruction in a hybrid course is delivered 50% online and 50% face-to-face contact. A sizeable portion of this course is completed outside of class. In class time involves lecture, discussions, activities, and out of class participation.  The course is completed within 8 weeks. Course format will consist of the following:

• Tuesdays: Talk About It
  • Discussion orientated, activity based, creative interaction with content
• Thursdays: Think it Through
  • Case studies and student led discussions 

DISTRACTION FREE CLASSROOM

During class, the goal is for us to be as focused as possible for our time together. As such, please choose to be focused on class time more than Snap time. Let’s leave our technology silenced unless we need it because we may. All technology usage should be about psychology content and welcomed by me, Dr. Hargrove. I also ask that cameras, recorders, and any image/video/audio capturing be limited to personal time outside of class – post whatever you want, but please, not me or my information in class.

WAYS to USE GENERATIVE AI CORRECTLY

• In this class, AI may be used under the following circumstances:
  • At the discretion of the professor: this means, that Dr. Hargrove must specify when students may use generative AI during class or on an assignment.
  • To generate assistance with course content NOT assignment completion: Student may ask AI questions for further clarity, about summaries of readings, or for extended resources pertaining to class content, but may NOT use AI to create assignment for submission.
  • When documented correctly: ANY TIME generative AI has been used, students must provide explanation(s) as to how AI was used.

Grading Criteria

A = 100-90%

B = 89-80%

C = 79-70%

D = 69-60%

F = 50%

 

ASSIGNMENT	QUANTITY	PERCENTAGE
Quizzes	6	10%
Post and responds	4	15%
Discussions	3	15%
Reading Logs	2	15%
Social Learning Project	1	10%
GROW Project	1	20%
Final Exam	1	15%

 

How are grades calculated?

 

• Let us say, for example, that you made the following grades in the course:
  • Quiz 1 = 82; Quiz 2 = 85; Quiz 3 = 93; Quiz 4 = 78; Quiz 5 = 90; Quiz 6 = 92
  • Post and Respond (PR): PR1: 88; PR1: 76; D3: 88; PR4: 70
  • Discussions: D1: 91; D2: 88; D3: 92
  • Reading Logs (2 total): 80 + 91
  • Service Learning Project = 92
  • GROW Project: 85
  • Final Exam: 83

 

• Here is how you would do the math:
  • Average the Quiz grades: 82 + 85 + 93 + 78 + 90 + 92 = 520/6 = 86.7
  • Average the PR grades: 88 + 76 + 88 + 70 = 322/4 = 80.5
  • Average discussion grades: 91 + 88 + 92 = 271/3 = 90.3
  • Average the Reading Logs: 80 + 91 = 85.5

 

• Then multiply by the percentage:
  • 86.7 X .10 = 8.7 (Quizzes)
  • 80.5 X .15 = 12.1 (Post and Responds)
  • 90.3 X .15 = 13.6 (Discussions)
  • 85.5 X .15 = 12.8 (Reading Logs)
  • 92 X .10 = 9 (Service-Learning Project)
  • 85 X .20 = 17 (GROW Project)
  • 83 X .15 = 12.5 (Final Exam)

 

• Now, add the numbers for each category: 
  • 8.5 + 12.1 + 13.6 + 12.8 + 9 + 17 + 12.5 = 85.5 = B (Course Grade)

 

LATE WORK

Late work is accepted up to one week after a due date has passed. Students can earn up to 85% of the overall grade within the week after the due date. NO work is accepted more than one week after a due date.

Attendance

LET’s BE IN CLASS (ATTENDANCE - read this, no really, read it)

• 85% attendance is expected for success in the course
  • REGARDLESS the reason
    • 85% of 16 = 13.6
    • 2/3 absences
• Attendance is taken daily.
• Students should attend class twice a week (T and TR). Role will additionally be taken through in-class participation, discussions, and submission of reading logs.
• Updates and assignments are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion and should be monitored daily online. 

Calendar

Additional Information

*See TILT’d Assignment descriptions in Blackboard for more detail.

 

OFFICE VISITS

Students who attend during office visits at least one time throughout the course of the term may add 10 pts. to any grade. Multiple visits do not allow for accumulation of points (e.g.: 3 visits do not equal 30pts). See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

 

POST and RESPOND

Students will participate in 4 post and responds. PRs take place online. PRs require an initial response of 100 or more words and a minimum of 2 replies to fellow classmates of 50 or more words each. Original responses must contain a minimum of 2 textual references correctly cited using APA 7th edition. Students should check the course schedule to determine when and where discussions take place. See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

 

QUIZZES

1. There will be six quizzes.
2. Each quiz will be different and adhere to the content found in the assigned readings.
3. There will be no opportunities for make-up quizzes regardless the reason, including technology issues.

 

READING LOGS

On specified weeks (see course schedule) students will be required to complete a reading log for the reading assigned. Reading logs consists of summary and case example creation and response. See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

 

DISCUSSIONS

At four different points throughout the semester, students will compose 5 original questions or use the provided discussion questions related to a chapter of the text and respond in no less than 75 words per question. See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

 

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT (SLP)

Throughout the term, students will volunteer at a community organization. Students will be required to volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours, complete an hours’ verification form, and submit a written report following the assignment guidelines. See Common Assessment Social Learning tab in Blackboard for detailed instructions, verification form, and submission.

 

GATHERING RELIABLE OPTIONS for WONDERING (GROW Project)

Students will selects a chapter and concept to express creatively. The GROW Project allows students to interact with various aspects of development that cumulatively integrate all aspects of general psychology. See TILT’d assignments in Blackboard for detailed instructions.

 

FINAL EXAM

General psychology requires all students to complete a comprehensive final exam. The exam will be offered online during the AC schedule final exam day and time.